Welcome to the website of my hometown – Jáchymov
Ecce, florent valles cum Evangelio
(See the blooming valleys with the Gospel)
Johannes Mathesius
What’s new on the site? Find out at the bottom of this page — both in text and in images.
The photo gallery for this site can be found next to the individual articles or directly at: http://mipalfi.rajce.idnes.cz/
This site contains photographs by third parties; please do not copy them without the permission of the copyright holders.
Do not use any other copyrighted documents without permission.
“The history of mining is so closely interwoven with the history of the country that it is impossible to separate them; indeed, it is certain that the rich mineral blessing of this land, which resounded throughout Europe, contributed greatly to this…”
Count Kaspar Sternberg — Outline of a History of the Bohemian Mines
Joachimsthal is becoming the basis of spa treatment used by patients from all over the world, but also a place of pilgrimage known for its history, architectural treasures, and natural beauty.
Marie Curie-Skłodowska, 1925
A warm welcome to the website about my hometown — Joachimsthal (Jáchymov).
The town of Jáchymov is a wonderful place. On one hand, we find evidence of geological and human wealth and a beautiful landscape; on the other, signs of decline, destruction, and a landscape ruined by human activity, recklessness, carelessness, and the ever-present lure of money. In the case of Joachimsthal, however, the decisive factor is above all ore mining.
The occasional visitor will probably be struck by one of the local contrasts: the carefully restored spa district and, on the other hand, the devastated and therefore dilapidated upper town. Yet almost all historical monuments are concentrated there. However, if the visitor narrows one eye and uses their imagination, they may see not only the buildings but also a certain atmosphere enveloping the town — a town where past and present merge.
Jáchymov is a town that I love and of which I am proud. You may argue that there is nothing special about it, that it is just a place in the middle of nowhere, where nothing happens except spa treatments. I hope I can convince you that this is not the case.
For the record: the Czech name of the Ore Mountains, “Krušné hory,” does not come from the idea that life here is particularly harsh (krušný — rough, hard to endure). The name refers to the rich mining tradition of these mountains. In the past, the verb “krušiti” meant to mine or extract. In German, the range is called Erzgebirge — Ore Mountains. Moreover, many names of towns, villages, and mountains bear witness to mining in what was once the most densely populated mountain range in Europe. For example: Gottesgab, Seifen, Kupfberg, Keilberg, Špičák, and Cínovec. In the 19th century, it was the most densely populated mountain range in the world.
IF YOU LIKE THE WEBSITE, TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT IT. IF YOU DO NOT LIKE THE WEBSITE, WRITE AND TELL ME WHY.
Many thanks to Mrs. M. M. Šechtlová for permission to use photographs from the Šechtl–Voseček studio, and to Mr. Mgr. V. Vojíř for providing photographs of contemporary Joachimsthal, as well as to many others who selflessly provided their works or memories for the purposes of this website.
If you have photographs of Joachimsthal from the past or present and would like to present them, I will gladly provide space for them. A link to your page in your own folder is, of course, included.
